The contract which is perfect for Rooney and Manchester United

If the United striker is going to stay and sign an extended contract with the club rather than walk away, the deal could take a very different look to the big money deals that Rooney has so far been used to.

The Independent has suggested that United want to change his current contract to make it more performance based.

Some may call that dangerous but it’s a move, which could work out perfectly for all parties concerned.

In short, it should make Rooney more determined to play out of his skin, which will go a long way to repairing the relationship between himself and Manchester United’s supporters.

The fact he wants the club to issue a statement saying he never asked to leave Old Trafford suggests he’s worried about the way he’s going to be perceived by supporters if he does stay at United and commits his future to the club.

One of the main reasons he first drew popularity with supporters is because of the typically boyish and English way he plays football; haring around like a headless chicken, playing any role he’s asked to play and sticking up for himself and his team.

As far as United and David Moyes are concerned, they are heading into a period of uncertainty following the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

A performance based new contract is in effect an insurance policy for them because they need players fully committed, determined to work hard and passionate to succeed.

All of those qualities Rooney has shown before during his time with the club and they eradicate the possibility that he will under perform, look lethargic or generally disinterested by his role in the United side.

It’s a rather bold attempt by the club to make Rooney a more consistent player than he already is.

He’s also on one of the biggest pay deals out of the entire squad at the moment so United are well within their rights to get Rooney onto a contract which means he’ll have to produce results if he wants to enjoy the same level of wealth.

If Rooney wants to retain his pay packet of over £200,000 per week then he needs to fire in goals, make himself indispensible in terms of selection and generally give the club a better chance of retaining the Premier League title and winning other pieces of silverware.

The overlying feeling with regards to Rooney is that he’s been misunderstood and would appreciate the chance to repair his relationship with the fans and the club if he’s used in the right way.

Lewis Doe

Lewis Doe is a freelance writer and editor who seeks to bring you the biggest, smallest and most interesting stories from the football world. Lewis has previously written for some of the biggest football news and opinion sites in the world including FootballFanCast and Goal.com International. Lewis is also experienced writing in the betting industry and aims to deliver his stories with up to date factual and statistical information. He hopes to sum up stories for the site and provide an angle on the issue moving forward.Lewis is HITC Sport's La Liga correspondent.